Actually, I think I'd like to take opinion from thousands of media members,
rather than two people, who for 150 years (seems like it anyways) have forced
their own opinions on us as if they had the only answers.

I found the Eyres' generalizations Hollywood media as a less than
transparent attempt to drive readers to the their net sites and sell copies of
the books.

The Eyres' position is established by setting up a
straw man boogie man, the Hollywood media, which they then proceed to castigate
with a series of generalizations intended to feed the fears of those who
don't think for themselves.

Yes, Hollywood and the media can be
to sexual, violent and cynical about relationship. On the other hand, it can
also provide us with movies, songs and stories that touch the very fabric of
what it means to be human, alive and in love.

Eyres' cynical
attempts to demonize Hollywood because there are only a few hundred media moguls
all in the name of their financial success is at best tawdry and definitely
irreprehensible

I don't think that "Hollywood" is some kind of vast conspiracy that
set out to destroy the moral fiber of this nation. But I do agree with the
authors that it is largely a group of like-minded people whose values are
generally much different than that of the average American.

Like the
uber-liberal main stream media which is dominated by left leaning and far-left
advocates, it tries to push an agenda that reflects its values rather than most
of ours. What sells as "entertainment" and news these days contains a
healthy dose of propaganda. (And no, its not all coming from the left.)

We have to be vigilant about teaching our values to our children to
counter-balance what they see in the media. Monitor what they are exposed to and
limit their exposure in general.

When I read comments like those from I'm LDS 2 and Amigo and JustGordon, I
wonder if they are actually reading the article or just using it to make their
points. The Eyres, who I happen to know have consulted with the media industry,
are simply making an observation that the values and "norms" often
portrayed as "everyday" and "normal" and "mainstream"
are in fact very different than what is really going on in most families and
communities. Their description of a "media minority masquerading as a
majority" is right on!

While the article makes some valid points, I am troubled by the assertion
"...a small cultural elite creates much of the media they see. Most people
in this group are neither as family-oriented nor as religiously inclined as the
average person." I have to disagree. Members of the media are people like
the rest of us. Plain and simple. Maybe society isn't the image that the
writers want to project.

I'm surprised by the number of comments refuting the articles comments.
Seriously? You think the garbage you see in every TV show/movie/etc. is a
typical lifestyle? The Eyres are spot-on. They aren't trying to demonize
the media, they are simply pointing out that parents need to help their children
understand that what they see isn't "normal." For example, not all
teens are sexually active, but watch TV for a couple hours as a teenager and
you'd walk away thinking you were the only one that wasn't. The Eyres
are simply writing an article pointing out what I've already seen published
in multiple studies already.

Maybe it's not the "mainstream media" that's the problem, but
the corporate interests behind it that is trying to sell us things.... Will the
Eyres take this on? I doubt it because that is the world in which they live and
the circle in which they run.

Esquire, I'm curious about how you know the Eyres so well? I know them and
I'm not too sure that you know anything at all about "the world they
live in and the circle in which they run." If you disagree with their
article, say so, and say why, but how about avoiding the personal stuff.

Over time, I've found that my experience has tended to corroborate what the
Eyre's have observed, and this makes me neither paranoid nor irrational.
It is called wisdom. I have learned to trust my intuition, walk away from the
smoke and mirrors when I see it, and to not lose sleep when someone tries to
persuade me, by illusion or condescension, that the whole world thinks I am
stupid for holding a contrary opinion.

@ dr.bridell, I know more about them that you might imagine. This isn't
personal stuff - it goes directly to their assault on the media without
examining the motivations of the media. I can elaborate, but money drives a lot
of things, and their views should not only be consistent in this regard, but it
is also appropriate for us to judge them as messengers, just as they imply that
we should judge the media messengers.

An example: Would the
massive shift if public optinion in favor of same-sex marriage and homosexuality
in general have happened without the media tailoring and creating the message?

From "Will and Grace" to the announcement that Dumbledorff
in the Harry Potter series was gay, the media and entertainment industries have
presented one side of the message, and created a certain stereotype of the gay
man, while propigating another stereotype of the person who opposes SSM. Taking
it in as a whole, it is readily apparent that the media and entertainment
industries promote a certain moral and political agenda.

With "50
Shade of Grey" coming out in movie form, will we see more positioning of
BDSM as a means of sexual self-expression? Is this the next battleground for
"equal rights"? Media does far more than reflect our values. It shapes
them...

...I agree with the Eyre's...and furthermore if they receive economic
remuneration from this article than I am fine with that also...That does not
translate into them being hypocrites, but receiving their just do for a well
written article...why not???...thanks Eyre family...somebody needs to speak
truth to power in this case...if not the Eyre's who?

I think there a million other lies we could mention that are commonly foisted
upon us from entertainment media... like the complete disregard for Real World
Physics. :)

Essentially creative people inject their values (and
ignorance) into their creative works. It's the nature of entertainment and
art.

I agree with the idea that as a parent it is my responsibility
to teach my kids they should question entertainment and the messages
they're being told. SO many messages our kids are exposed to are
destructive... things like body image, promiscuity, civic responsibility, and
basic trust of your neighbor are often skewed by entertainment stereotypes, and
for the convention of the need of drama and resolution within the space of a
half hour.